From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Hundreds of right-wing activists hold protest prayer service in Tel Aviv over city ban on gender-segregated public prayer
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Hundreds of right-wing activists attend midday and evening services at Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square to protest the municipality’s apparent ban on public prayers.
During the protest, which featured calls for revenge on Palestinians, a woman was pushed aside and told she was being a public disturbance for standing amid men during the protest prayer service.
The prayer was organized two days ago in response to the municipality’s apparent ban on gender-segregated prayers in public squares.
Right-wing news outlet Channel 14 published on Monday a letter dated August 4 in which the municipality’s deputy director general said the city would discontinue COVID-era guidelines regarding prayers in public spaces.
During a protest prayer at Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square Thursday, a crowd dances, paraphrasing Judges 16:28 to ask God help them take revenge on "Palestine, may its name be expunged." pic.twitter.com/lii8yBH1hJ
— Noam Lehmann (@noamlehmann) August 8, 2024
“Accordingly, all requests [to hold] prayers/gatherings in plazas etc. are denied and such we cannot approve your request,” the letter stated.
Nearly 800 people joined a WhatsApp group set up the next day to organize today’s protest prayer service.
During the service, one protester walks around Dizengoff Square with a sign reading “straight to jail with the antisemite Huldai,” referring to Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai.
Dances break out between the midday and evening prayers.
Instead of “Philistines,” the far-right activists shout “Palestine,” adding, “may its name be expunged.”
Some of those present refuse to be interviewed, saying they will speak only to Channel 14.
Adi, a resident of Tel Aviv, says she was told to leave when standing among men during the prayer. “They said I’m a Muslim, that I’m not Jewish.”
Police took her aside, saying she was causing a public disturbance.
Shlomo, a reporter for ultra-Orthodox newspaper Mishpacha, says the prayer was held to promote national unity.
“The State of Israel is the home of the Jewish people at the end of the day,” he says. “The public can’t accept” a ban on Jewish prayer in public, he says, noting the municipality’s approval for the Pride Parade and an annual Muslim prayer at Charles Clore park.
The Times of Israel Community.